Roughing It: Campsites 101!

Going camping is a great way to get in touch with nature, but before you charge out into the mountains you should know how to properly set up camp. Think you know everything about preparing a campsite? Take our quiz to see if you're ready to go pitch a tent.

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Question 1 of 20

Where should you store your food to prevent black bears from getting it?

in your tent

in a bear-proof canister or locker at least 200 yards from your tent

Black bears are highly intelligent and they are skilled tree climbers. Therefore, the best place to keep food is in a bear-proof canister or locker located a safe distance from your tent.

in a bag hanging from a tree at least 12 feet from the ground

Question 2 of 20

Where is the best place to build a fire?

in an existing fire pit or fire ring

Campfires can cause severe, long-term impacts on the land, so whenever possible, it's best to start a fire in an existing or designated fire pit or ring.

next to your tent

on a sandy beach

Question 3 of 20

What is the best way to deal with trash when camping?

Burn it.

Bury it.

Pack it out with you.

Leave no trace principles state that outdoor enthusiasts should pack out all trash.

Question 4 of 20

Your campsite should be at least how many feet away from the nearest trail or water source?

50 feet

200 feet

In order to limit the possibility of contamination, it's a good idea to set up camp at least 200 feet from nearby lakes and streams.

500 feet

Question 5 of 20

What is the best place to set up camp in a thunderstorm?

in the middle of an open field

beneath the tallest tree in the forest

in the forest, but not near the tallest tree

In the event of a thunderstorm, it's best not to be the tallest thing around, and it's also smart not to set up camp next to the tallest thing around. Therefore, the ideal place to camp is in the woods, but not too close to very tall trees.

Question 6 of 20

If you can't use an existing campsite, where's the ideal surface to set up your tent?

soft, mossy ground

thick grass

sand, gravel or some other durable surface

Although thick grass or moss might look more comfortable, if there are no designated campsites nearby, the best place to set up a tent is on the most durable surface in order to minimize your impact on native plants.

Question 7 of 20

How large of a radius should you clear of flammable debris before lighting a campfire?

10 feet

Because sparks can fly, especially during windy conditions, the U.S. Forest Service recommends clearing a 10-foot radius of any flammable debris before lighting a fire.

1 foot

3 feet

Question 8 of 20

To avoid flooding, pitch your tent on a surface that has what?

a thick canopy of trees overhead

a deep trench dug around it

good drainage

In case of rain, the best place to set up camp is on a surface with a slight slope -- but not too steep, otherwise it will be difficult to sleep without sliding downhill.

Question 9 of 20

What is the name for a small, one-person tent?

a bivouac sack, or "bivy sack"

If you are camping alone, especially in a backcountry setting, the lightest and most efficient type of shelter is often a bivouac sack, or "bivy sack."

a yurt

a dome tent

Question 10 of 20

What should you do before you set up your tent?

Clear the area of rocks, logs and sticks.

Clearing any big rocks, branches or twigs before you set up your tent will make the ground more comfortable to lie on.

Build a fire.

Hunt for bear.

Question 11 of 20

What non-food items might smell like food to a bear?

sweaty T-shirts and socks

toothpaste and deodorant

Bears have an extremely acute sense of smell, and they will be attracted to any scented items, including (but not limited to) toothpaste, deodorant, bug spray, lotion and lip balm.

anything humans have touched

Question 12 of 20

True or false: A rain fly is a waterproof tarp that fits to the outside of your tent.

True

Even if rain isn't in the forecast, it's a good idea to set up the rain fly, because it will also keep your tent dry from dew.

False

Question 13 of 20

How do you prevent perishable food from spoiling?

Keep it in a cooler on ice.

If you plan to bring perishable food, bring a cooler with enough ice to keep it from spoiling. The easier option is to bring non-perishable foods.

Hang it from a tree.

Keep it in your car with the air conditioner running.

Question 14 of 20

True or false: All campsites and public lands allow open fires.

True

False

Due to forest fire risks, not all allow open fires, and those that do often have fire regulations, so check with the local authorities to find out what the fire rules are.

Question 15 of 20

Which poses the highest fire risk?

open fire

Because of their high forest fire risks, open fires aren't even permitted in all campsites.

gas stove

existing fire ring

Question 16 of 20

Which bear is the better climber?

adult grizzly

adult black bear

Black bears are smaller than adult grizzlies, but much better climbers. So in many parks where black bears are active, like Yosemite National Park, hanging food is illegal and bear-proof food containers are required by law.

both are equally adept at climbing

Question 17 of 20

What is the definition of “leave no trace?”

hiding from any bears

removing everything from the wilderness that you take on a hiking trip

Leaving no trace principles state that outdoor enthusiasts should pack out all trash, leftover food and litter, including toilet paper and hygiene products.

making sure no other hikers see you on the trail

Question 18 of 20

What is the beginning of a hiking trail called?

starting point

trailhead

You can usually find restrooms, maps and informational brochures at the trailhead.

trail A

Question 19 of 20

True or false: Non-perishable foods are ideal to take on a camping trip because they won't attract bears or other animals.

True

False

Non-perishable foods are easier to prevent from spoiling than other foods -- and easy to prepare. But animals can still be enticed by the scents of things like dry oatmeal, pasta and rice.

Question 20 of 20

What is the name of the character bear that teaches wildfire prevention?

Yogi Bear

Smokey Bear

Smokey Bear is part of the longest running Public Service Announcement campaign in U.S. history where he preaches "Only YOU can prevent wildfires."